This son-in-law is wicked in a good way!

A carriage slowly came to a stop in front of the Zhang family mansion gate.

Sun Guihua, dressed in a black robe, was helped out of the carriage by servants and was quickly welcomed inside by the Zhang family.

Zhang Xuanling's study.

The two sat side by side.

Zhang Xuanling personally poured him a cup of tea.

"Lord Sun came to see me in the dead of night, has something important happened?"

Sun Guihua's face was somewhat gloomy. He didn't pick up the teacup on the table, but stared intently at Zhang Xuanling.

"For some reason, your fourth son ended up with the Night's Watch, and now my son Sun Xing has been arrested and taken to the Night's Watch office."

Zhang Xuanling frowned: "How did that good-for-nothing get into the Night's Watch!"

"Your son? Who are you asking?" Sun Guihua rolled her eyes.

"So, what does Lord Sun intend to do?"

Sun Guihua's gaze darkened: "I heard he served three years in prison before. According to the Great Martial Law, people with criminal records are not allowed to enter the Night Watchmen's office unless granted special permission by the Emperor."

"We can work on that. As long as we get him out of the Night's Watch, and then I make some connections, the problem will be solved."

Zhang Xuanling pondered for a moment. If Zhang Ping'an stayed with the Night Watch, given his resentment towards the Zhang family, it would not be good for him in the future.

However, being seasoned veterans of officialdom, Zhang Xuanling was not about to agree so easily.

"Lord Sun, he is, after all, my son. If I, as his father, were to report him, I fear I would be criticized!"

You're talking as if you've never done this.

They were all cunning old foxes; how could Sun Guihua not understand Zhang Xuanling's implied meaning?

"Your students this year can all be assigned to the Ministry of Personnel."

Zhang Xuanling's eyes lit up, but he still had concerns.

"There were many people who witnessed Young Master Sun's actions that day. With the Night Watch's methods, we might not be unable to find a breakthrough."

A vicious glint flashed across Sun Guihua's face: "Lord Zhang, you're overthinking it. Just now, the snack street in the west of the city was set on fire and ransacked by the White Lotus rebels. There were no survivors."

hiss!

Although he had expected it, Zhang Xuanling still couldn't help but gasp when he heard the answer with his own ears.

But now he has no more worries.

"make a deal."

The two old foxes exchanged a knowing smile.

The Imperial Palace, Hall of Mental Cultivation.

In the brightly lit, empty imperial bedchamber, the Empress sat high behind the dragon throne, one hand supporting her forehead.

Whoosh!

The empress angrily threw the memorial in her hand away.

"A bunch of useless trash!"

The eunuch Xi, who was serving nearby, quickly knelt down.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger! Take care of your health!"

The Empress waved her hand impatiently: "You may leave. Tell Mo Yu to come in."

"Here you go!"

Grandpa Xi immediately took off in his short legs and walked backwards away.

A moment later, the beautiful and charming Miss Mo, dressed in a long blue dress, strode in.

"Your subject, Mo Yu, pays respects to Your Majesty!"

"No need for formalities." The Empress gently waved her hand. "Please sit."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Mo Yu did not sit down, but stepped forward and stood beside the Empress.

"Is Your Majesty troubled by the arson and violence committed by the White Lotus Rebels in the west of the city?"

The Empress glanced at her sideways, her expression unreadable: "Do you really think that was the work of the White Lotus Sect?"

Mo Yu bowed respectfully: "I dare not draw any conclusions before finding conclusive evidence."

A strong killing intent flashed in the Empress's eyes.

"A street with thousands of inhabitants—if this was done by someone, that person and their entire family should be executed!"

After saying that, he changed the subject and pointed to the memorial on the dragon table, saying, "Take a look at this too. This is the strategy of the court officials to pacify the Northern Barbarians."

"Negotiations, negotiations, the only options are to negotiate peace or send troops to defend the territory."

"The entire court of civil and military officials are not as capable as Zhang Ping'an."

"By the way, what is Zhang Ping'an doing these days?"

Mo Yu said, "Your Majesty, according to Guo Diangong's report, Zhang Ping'an is currently on duty at the Night Watch's Green Mountain Hall!"

"Very well, after the morning court tomorrow, you will come with me to see him. I happen to have something I want to ask him."

"Does Your Majesty wish to inquire about the Yellow River floods?"

The Empress glanced at her sideways: "You really can't hide anything from anyone."

"Since the late emperor ascended the throne, he has been working to control the Yellow River. Now, thirty years have passed, but the Yellow River floods still cannot be eradicated."

"Two days ago, the Governor of Yuzhou reported that due to torrential rains, the Yellow River breached its banks in Feng County, Wei County, and other places, leaving 100,000 people homeless."

"The officials in the court only know how to shirk responsibility, and not one of them has a solution to fundamentally solve the flood problem."

Mo Yu frowned and said, "Your Majesty, although Zhang Ping'an has some talent, he is too young. How could he possibly understand flood control strategies?"

"Your Majesty should not place too much hope in him!"

The Empress's phoenix eyes brightened slightly, and a faint smile appeared on her beautiful face: "Young Master Zhang's literary talent is unparalleled, his military strategy can convince even a great Confucian scholar like Yang Tai, and he has also offered a plan to exterminate the Northern Barbarians. A mere flood may not be able to stump him."

Suddenly, Eunuch Xi's voice rang out from outside: "Your Highness, His Majesty is discussing matters with Lord Mo. You cannot enter..."

"Get out of my way! You dare block this princess's path? You're asking for trouble!"

A domineering and unreasonable voice rang out.

Then, a stunningly beautiful woman with a hot figure, dressed in a red, tight-fitting martial arts uniform, pushed aside Eunuch Xi and stormed into the main hall in a huff.

Upon seeing the newcomer, the Empress frowned slightly.

"Your Majesty, Princess Yongyang insists on seeing you, and this old servant could not stop her! Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"

Grandpa Xi knelt down and begged for mercy.

The Empress waved her hand at Eunuch Xi: "You may leave now!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Eunuch Xi stuck out his buttocks and scurried back out.

"Your Majesty, Yuzhou is suffering from floods, leaving 100,000 people homeless and starving. Why haven't you allocated funds for disaster relief?"

Princess Yongyang, Chu Yuxun, stood with her hands on her hips, questioning the Empress fiercely.

Princess Yongyang was born to the late Empress and was originally the first in line to the throne.

However, due to his erratic behavior, the late emperor passed the throne to Chu Lingyu.

Princess Yongyang originally had no interest in the throne, but she was born with an indomitable spirit. Losing the throne only fueled her desire to compete with Chu Lingyu and prove her father's judgment wrong.

This time, she went down to investigate the people's conditions and happened to go to Yuzhou. When she came back, she criticized Chu Lingyu.

The Empress felt somewhat indebted to her younger sister, but she understood that her sister only wanted to compete and was not after the throne.

So, as long as it doesn't get too serious, we just let her have her way.

Mo Yu hurriedly defended the Empress: "Princess, His Majesty has already allocated 500,000 taels of silver for disaster relief. You have misunderstood His Majesty."

"Hmph, 100,000 disaster victims, how can 500,000 taels be enough? At least 1 million taels are needed."

"I can clearly see that you don't care about the lives of the people. If Father Emperor knew this in the afterlife, he would definitely regret not choosing me, the princess, to inherit the throne!"

The Empress said helplessly, "Yongyang, I also want to allocate silver, but the national treasury is empty. This 500,000 taels was only obtained by me forcing the Ministry of Revenue to take it out."

"Moreover, if the root cause of the Yellow River floods is not addressed, no amount of money can fill this bottomless pit."

Mo Yu then said, "His Majesty is trying to find a way to solve the flood problem, which is the only way to address the root cause."

"Solve the floods?" Princess Yongyang asked with a meaningful look, her large, clear eyes darting around. "That makes sense."

"Then, Your Highness, I'll take my leave now. You can think of a solution later!"

After saying this, he left without bowing, like a gust of wind.

Mo Yu hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, Princess Yongyang must have gone to find a solution to the flood, hoping to control it before you do. Should we send someone to keep an eye on her?"

The Empress put her hand to her forehead: "Let her do whatever she wants, nothing will happen."